The importance of being congruent

September 21, 2008 | article by Ken Thompson in Think Differently (22)

One of the key lessons from NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is the importance of being congruent. If you don't really believe what you are saying your incongruence will "leak" to your audience.

The town of Harmony

Picture Source: http://www.lukemelia.com/

It is important to do as you say and say as you do.

Congruence (according to the NLP Dictionary)

"When all of a person's internal beliefs, strategies, and behaviours are fully in agreement and oriented toward securing a desired outcome. Words, voice and body language - give the same message".

I have been at a number of events recently where the participants were making statements which were at clear odds with their behaviour, yet their non verbals indicated congruency, which must mean that despite the obvious evidence of their behaviour they believed that they were behaving differently. Yet another example of how we all live in our own, and sometimes very different, worlds.

And a point to ponder, apart from our individual takes on the world, is there also a real world our there independent of our observations?

Each Think Differently is a short challenge to encourage us that there are always differently ways of framing any situation and is brought to www.bioteams.com by Peter Fryer author of the Trojan Mice blog.

Tags: congruence, NLP

Comments (0)| Related (3) | Permalink

Email to a friend | Print this article

Bioteams Books Reviews

Leadership under pressure: the two worst mistakes

August 7, 2008 | article by Ken Thompson in Book Reviews (37)

I have been thinking a lot about what happens when a leader gets under severe pressure, usually because things are not going according to plan. It seems to me this is the very essence of real leadership and where leaders can really justify their salaries. BUT according to Professor Dietrich Dorner, in his excellent book The Logic Of Failure: Recognizing And Avoiding Error In Complex Situations, there are two very tempting but ultimately disastrous tangents a leader can pursue in a crisis instead of addressing the real issues.

Buy it now from:
Amazon.Com
Amazon.Co.UK

Comments | Permalink

Click here to check all Bioteams book reviews

Related Think Differently Articles

Innovation Strategies: Survival of the Fittest

September 18, 2008 | article by Ken Thompson in Think Differently (25)

Alexander Kandybin, of Booz & Company, suggests consumer products companies need to look to the power of natural selection to break out of the incremental innovation trap.

Comments | Permalink

Are you a tradesman or a craftsman?

February 5, 2012 | article by Ken Thompson in Think Differently (25)

A tradesman does their work as a means to an end whereas a craftsman does their work from a desire to do the job well for its own sake. Which are you or are you a bit of both?

Comments | Permalink

Brainstorming - 7 Do's and 6 Don'ts

September 19, 2011 | article by Ken Thompson in Think Differently (25)

Brainstorming is one of those things which some people believe is natural and easy - they are wrong! There are 7 things which will make your team brainstorm go brilliantly .... and 6 things which will absolutely kill it. Find out what they are here.

Comments | Permalink